Machine for making counter-stiffeners



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N. J. SIMONDS. 'MAGHIN'E FOR MAKING COUNTER STIFFENERS.

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Patented Jan. 29, 1 95.

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N. J. SIMONDS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING COUNTER STIPPENERS. No. 533,237. I Patented Jan, 29,1895.

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NJ. S-IM'ONDS. MACHINE FOR MAKING COUNTER STIPFENER$. No. 583,237.Patented Jan. 29. 189E).

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N. J. SIMONDS. MACHINE FOR MAKING COUNTER STIFFENERS.

N0. 533,237. Patented Jan. 29, 1895.

Wiqessesence being bad to NATHAN J. SIMONDS, OF WOBURN, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING COUNTER-STIFFENERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 533,237, dated January29, 1895. Application filed August 8, 1888. Serial No. 282,26 7. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN J. SIMoNns, of

oburn, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Machines for MakingOounter-Stiffeners for Boots or Shoes, of which the following is aspecification, referthe drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof,in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my machine. Fig. 2 is a frontelevation. Fig. 3 is a plan View. Fig. 4 is a detail, showing the formerand molds, and denoting their relative positions when the machine isready to receive a blank. Fig. 5 is a similar view, showing the positionof the parts when the side molds or dies have closed on the former. Fig.6 is a similar view, showing the parts after the side dies have openedand with the back die against the former. Fig. 7 is a section on line0c-a:, Fig. 3.

The object of my invention is the construction of a speedy and effectivemachine for molding to and shoes, and it consists, chiefly, in theemployment, in a machine such as will be hereinafter described, of a setof molds actingin conjunction with the former to press and rub a blankfrom which counters are made so as to set it to the shape of the former,the molds being arranged and operated in such manner as to not onlypress the blank but also to rub it, the side and back portions of thecounter being acted on successively and a smooth counter produced,conforming accurately in shape to the exterior of the former; and itconsists further in the construction and arrangement of the mechanismfor actuating the molds and former as also for freeing the formedcounter from the machine.

I have shown in the accompanying drawings the best form of machinenowknown to me which embodies my invention and I will describe it usinglike letters of reference to indicate like parts throughout saiddrawings.

A is the frame of the machine which consists of two sides securedtogether by crosspieces bolted thereto. The sides A may be of anyconvenient shape to support the shafts and moving parts.

The main shaft 13, is journaled in the rear the frame, as shown, Figs. 1and 3, and is shape counter-stiffeners for boots provided with a drivingpulley 0, connected with a suitable clutch and shipper mechanism ofusual construction by which the pulley may be made fast or loose on theshaft when it is desired to start or stop the machine.

Near the other end of the shaft B a pinion D, is secured, which mesheswith a gear E, fast on a crank-shaft F, which is also journaled in theframe of the machine about midway between the front and rear thereof.See Fig. 3. i

A pitman or connecting rod G, connects the crank-shaft with the lowerend of aswinging frame H, see Figs. 1 and 2, for the purpose ofactuating said frame. The frame H carries the former as also the sidedies which co-operate therewith to mold the sides of the counter, and issuspended in the frame A of the machine by means of a shaft J whichpasses through a hole or bearing in the swinging frame H, and isjournaled at either end in frame A.

The former-block K, Fig. 7, is of the shape to which it is desired tomold the counter, and is mounted centrally on the swinging frame H bymeans of flanged projections a on the base thereof, which slidelaterally in grooves cut across the top of the frame H to receive them.By this means a former may be taken out and another one put in itsplace, if desired. The blocks b, which carry the side molds b, aresimilarly mounted in grooves cut across the upper end of the frame H sothat they may have a lateral movement toward and from the former K. Themolds b are mounted in the blocks 1) by means of grooves in the blocks,as shown at a, Fig. 5. Between the molds b and their blocks a strip ofrubber, or similar yielding material, is interposed so that the moldsmay yield slightly when they come in contact with the counter blank.This is desirable for various reasons, as for example if the stock ofthe blank be of unequal thickness throughout.

For the purpose of actuating the side molds b I have providedcam-actuated levers d, of the shape shown, Figs. 1 and 3, which are piv.oted near their upper ends in'the swinging frame H and which projectdownwardly through curved slots in the frame A and are provided at theirlower ends with friction tongues on the molds b which are received inrolls f, which, as the head H swings, travel over cam projections g, seeFig. 3, thus throwing in the upper ends which bear against the moldblocks b of the levers d and forcing the molds against the counter blankon the former. The cams g, which act to tilt the levers d, are securedon the outside of the frame A. The side molds b have in addition totheir movement toward and from the former, a slight slipping or slidingmovement lengthwise of the former, so that they not onl act upon thecounter-blank by direct pressure but also by a sliding or rubbingpressure which aids in setting the blank to shape. The movement of theside molds b, which causes a rubbing action on the blank, is obtained bymeans of levers h, which are pivoted near their upper ends at j, seeFig. 1, in a recess or opening in the upper portion of the swingingframe H. See Fig. 2.

A short projection 70, on the lever it, above the pivot thereof,projects into-a recess m, in the under side of the block b, and thelower end of the lever is provided with a stud n, Fig. 2, which carriesa friction roll 19 and projects into a cam path or slot q, Fig. 1, inthe curved piece J which is secured to the frame of the machine. As theupper end of the frame H swings backward after a counterblank is placedon the former therollp traverses the cam-slot and gives the mold aslight forward movement against the sides of the counter.

The tongues on the under side of the blocks 1) are not as wide as thegrooves in the top of the frame H, in which said tongues are received,and this permits of the movement of the blocks 1) by the levers h whichcause the side-molds to rub the blank. After the sidemolds b have actedon the counter they open and the former, continuing its backwardmovement, carries the counter against the back mold 5 which is mountedin a crosspiece d of the frame. This cross-piece is recessed, as shown,Fig. 7, to receive the mold b and a piece of rubber or yielding materialf, is placed in the recess behind the mold to give itaslightly yieldingseat. An adjusting screw g is set in the cross-piece d and bears on theback of the mold for the purpose of adjusting it.

It will be observed that the back mold b acts after the side molds havewithdrawn and overlaps the portion of the back of the counter which wasnot touched by the side molds so that any ridge left by the rear ends ofthe side molds is pressed out by the back mold and the counter leftsmooth.

The flange of the counter, which lies on the top or tread of the former,is rubbed and pressed down smoothly by the flange-block h which ismounted in the cross-piece 7c in the same manner as is the back mold bin the cross-piece (1. See Fig. 7 The operating face of the flange-blockh is curved slightly to correspond to the curve of the top or tread ofthe former and thus a counter is produced which is slightly curved fromfront to rear of the bottom or flange. This curve is desirable, as itfits the corresponding curve of the heel of the last and of the foot.

For the purpose of freeing the formed counter from the machine a pin m,Fig. '7, is provided, which projects through a hole in the cross pieceand flangeblock it and is pressed down by a leaf-spring n, which issecured to the cross-piece 70'. This spring bears against the upper endof the pin m. As the former moves back it carries the flange of thecounter under the pin m, raising the pin slightly. When-the former movesforward the pin comes in contact with the flange of the counter, holdingthe counter back and thus freeing the counter from the former andallowing it to drop out of the machine.

The operation of the machine is as follows: \Vhen the swinging frame His at the forward end of its throw (the reverse of its position in Fig.1), the operator places either a partially formed blank or a flat blankon the former, the side molds close on it and press and rub the sideportions. The former then passes under the flange-block, pressing andrubbing down the flange. The side molds then separate and the back ofthe former approaches the back mold, molding the back of the counter.The former then moves forward, the counter comes in contact with theclearing pin and ispulled off the former and drops out of the machine.

The machine shown in the drawings is more particularly designed as afinishing machine, that is, for finishing counters which have beenpreviously partially formed or brought to approximate shape, but it maybe used when desired to shape counters from flat blanks.

Great pressure is necessary or desirable in molding a heel stiffener toshape, and the swinging frame H has proved a desirable and economicalmeans of actuating the former, and since the former, by this device,moves through the arc of a circle the precise curved shape of the treadof the heel may be given to the bottom or flange of the counter. Thiscurved bottom or flange, although desirable, is not absolutely necessaryto produce a salable counter, since at the present time many countersare made with flat bottoms. The former might, therefore, in my machinebe reciprocated in a straight line and I do not desire to limit myselfto the precise form of frame shown as other forms might be employed.

WVhat I claim is 1. A counter molding machine provided with a formerupon which the counter is molded, and having two side molds whichco-operate with said former to mold the sides of the counter and a backmold which cooperates with the former to mold the back of the counter,said back mold having a contact face greater than the space between therear ends of the side molds, when said side molds are closed on theformer, and suitable mechanism for forcing the back and side molds intocontact with the counter successively whereby a counter is produced hav-5 ing its surface smooth throughout, substantially as set forth.

2. A counter molding machine comprising a former upon which the counteris molded,

female side dies fitting along substantially the length of the sides ofthe said former, means for pressingsaid side dies toward said former tothereby mold the sides of the counter, and means whereby, after thesides of the counter have been molded, and while said side dies are heldin close contact with the counter,

the said side dies are moved slightly lengthwise of the former to pressand rub the sides of the counter, substantially as described.

3. A counter molding machine comprising a support, a shaft on which saidsupport is mounted to turn, means for turning the said support aroundthe axis of said shaft, a former carried by said support, female diesmovable in unison with said support and former, and means acting topress said female dies against the said former as the support turnsforward, substantially as described.

4. A counter molding machine comprising a support, a shaft or pivotabout which said 0 supportis arranged to turn, a former carried by saidsupport, female dies movable in unison with said support and former,means for actuating said female dies, and a flange-block having a curvedoperating face against which the flange of the counter is carried inmoving 3 5 past the same, substantially as described.

5. In a counter-molding machine the combination, with the former mountedon. the swinging frame, the stationary flange-block and the clearing pinm, for the purposes and substantially as set forth.

6. In a counter-molding machine the com bination with the swinging frameof the former and side molds mounted on said frame, the levers d,pivoted thereto, and the cam projections g, whereby the side molds aremade to approach the former as the frame swings, substantially as setforth.

7. In a counter-molding machine the combination with the swinging frame,of the former and side molds mounted on said frame, the levers h pivotedthereto, and the cams q for actuating said levers, whereby, as the frameswings, the side molds are caused to move lengthwise ofthe former and torub the counter thereon, substantially as described.

NATHAN J. SIMONDS.

Witnesses:

WM. A. MAOLEOD, ROBERT WALLACE.

